Colorado’s Most Efficient Scorers – Part One

Who has the better game? The player who goes 6-19 from the field for 17 points? Or the one who shoots 5-8 with 15 points? Efficiency matters for team success and points per shot (PPS) is a simple way to evaluate efficiency. The WNBA calculates efficiency differently but simply taking points divided by field goal attempts yields very useful information when evaluating productivity. Players are rewarded who take quality shots, who get to the line and convert, and who knock down a high percentage of threes. I looked at the top 250 scorers from last year. Of those, ninety-five graduated, leaving 155 returning players. Seventeen of those 155 players averaged at least 1.33 points per shot. Here are the top eight: <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 20%; text-align: left;"><strong>Name</strong></td> <td style="width: 20%; text-align: left;"><strong>School</strong></td> <td style="width: 20%; text-align: left;"><strong>Year</strong></td> <td style="width: 20%; text-align: left;"><strong>PPG</strong></td> <td style="width: 20%; text-align: left;"><strong>PPS</strong></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 20%; text-align: left;">[player_tooltip player_id="95167" first="Lauren" last="Betts"]</td> <td style="width: 20%; text-align: left;">Grandview</td> <td style="width: 20%; text-align: left;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%; text-align: left;">17.5</td> <td style="width: 20%; text-align: left;">1.8</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="padding-left: 40px;">It’s no surprise that the most efficient scorer in Colorado is the number one ranked player in the class of '22. Betts is used to getting bodied up, doubled, pushed, hacked (we all know taller girls don’t get forearm foul calls), but what makes her so efficient is smart shot selection. She has little desire to force a tough eight-footer and when doubled would rather create for a teammate. As a result, her shooting percentage starts with an eight (80.4%, no lie)! She scores when it’s the best option for the team and Grandview is a regular 5A Final Four participant as a result.</p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="207133" first="Kristin" last="Vieselmeyer"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Holyoke</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%;">20.9</td> <td style="width: 20%;">1.7</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="padding-left: 40px;">Holyoke has to be pumped for an all-in, grand finale for their deep senior class. Vieselmeyer’s efficiency is boosted by 78% free throw shooting and a monster year on the offensive glass (79 offensive rebounds). The Dragons will be fired up for a potential run even deeper than last year’s Great 8.</p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">Ashley Mortensen</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Sangre de Cristo</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%;">15.0</td> <td style="width: 20%;">1.7</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="padding-left: 40px;">Mortensen’s junior year lacks some sample size due to COVID-19 cuts and quarantines, but the 5’6" guard showed the ability to put the ball in the hole in the eight games the Thunderbirds were able to play. Shooting 63% from the field when only nine of her 45 field goals were from behind the arc tells me one thing; Mortensen makes her layups. She provides some motivation for every serious player to work those finishing moves and hit your layups.</p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">Sara Gurule</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Pueblo South</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2023</td> <td style="width: 20%;">15.4</td> <td style="width: 20%;">1.6</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="padding-left: 40px;">Gurule had an efficient season and helped Pueblo South get back to their winning ways. She shot 63% doing most of her damage near the hoop and recorded four double-doubles.</p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="95172" first="Gracie" last="Gallegos"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Mullen</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%;">16.4</td> <td style="width: 20%;">1.6</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="padding-left: 40px;">As one of the best athletes in all Colorado classes, Gallegos is efficient in every part of the game. She’s 6’1", fast, athletic, shoots 40% behind the arc (32-81 in 2021), and she attacks using both hands and every move possible. She hit 1.0 point per shot or better in every single game and led all scorers by five points, dropping seventeen in the 4A state title game. Aside from making this list, Gallegos is an absolute shutdown defender.</p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">Trista Marx</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Limon</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%;">17.8</td> <td style="width: 20%;">1.5</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="padding-left: 40px;">Marx put on a legendary performance on championship Saturday, March 20, scoring twenty-seven points on eighteen shots to lead the Badgers to a 2A state title. Shooting seventeen free throws, Marx was too much for Wray to deal with. It was that type of season for the 5’11" stud. Marx shot more free throws on the season than anyone else in Colorado, all classes, with 135 attempts (making 61%).</p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="145418" first="Charlotte" last="Brennan"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Mead</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2023</td> <td style="width: 20%;">12.2</td> <td style="width: 20%;">1.5</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="padding-left: 40px;">In a group dominated by thunder, Brennan used lightning to make this list. She’s 5’5" and a blur of speed who finishes at a high rate, shooting 71% inside the arc and 36% outside the arc. Brennan looks small but she's a big reason why the Mavericks are ready for a deep run in 2022.</p> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 20%;">[player_tooltip player_id="207078" first="Olivia" last="Reed"]</td> <td style="width: 20%;">Windsor</td> <td style="width: 20%;">2022</td> <td style="width: 20%;">14.4</td> <td style="width: 20%;">1.5</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="padding-left: 40px;">A poised, 6’1" versatile forward with every post move ever created, Reed consistently dominates the paint. She recorded ten double-doubles and four, twenty point games this year. Her team is full of scorers and she'll anchor the senior-heavy Wizards with a chance at a very winnable 4A title in 2022.</p> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">* Players whose attempts aren’t recorded in Max Preps for all games were removed from the list.</span> &nbsp;